Placental cord drainage and the effect on the duration of third stage labour, a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of placental cord drainage on the duration of third stage labor, and to clarify the safety of this method regarding to postpartum hemorrhage, retained placenta, incidence of manual removal of placenta, and the need for blood transfusion.

DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING: King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred women in the third stage of labour after vaginal delivery were randomized. In the study group, placental cord drainage was performed. In both groups, the placenta was delivered by Brandt Andrew method. One case of placenta succenturiata was subsequently excluded. The duration of third stage was compared as the primary outcome. The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, retained placenta, manual removal of placenta, and the need for blood transfusion were compared.

RESULTS: In 99 cases with normal placentas, 49 cases were assigned to the study group, 50 cases were assigned to the control group. The third stage of labor was significantly shorter after placental cord drainage (5.1 +/- 2.4 minutes vs. 7.0 +/- 6.1 minutes). There was no postpartum hemorrhage, uterine atony, hypovolemic shock, or the need for blood transfusion in neither groups.

CONCLUSION: Placental cord drainage shortens the duration of third stage labour. This method appears to be safe and does not increase postpartum complication.